Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro has criticised NT Labor after no members attended a Greek community event before it turned sour

The Opposition Leader has questioned why no government ministers attended a recent Greek community event before it descended into chaos.

UPDATE: OPPOSITION Leader Lia Finocchiaro has questioned why no government ministers attended a Greek community event on Sunday before it descended into chaos.

A small group used the OXI Day celebrations at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to push anti-vaccination rhetoric, heckling Ms Finocchiaro and Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis.

On Tuesday, Ms Finocchiaro expressed frustration about having to bear the brunt of anger against the government’s vaccination policy.

“The fact is, they did not attend because they can’t face up to tough conversations with the Territorians they are elected to lead, and instead choose to hide,” she said.

“It just shows Territorians that despite having 13 Labor members of parliament in the Darwin region, not a single Labor member – or any of their staff – had the courage of their convictions to attend.”

Ms Finocchiaro said comments from Mr Gunner or Health Minister Natasha Fyles condemning the events at the church were “an exercise in saving face”.

A spokesman for the Chief Minister Michael Gunner said Labor politicians had been out talking to the public at other events.

“One of the great things about the Territory is that our politicians are so accessible – and our government ministers were out at various events over the weekend talking to constituents.”

The spokesman said the actions at the church were “extremely disappointing”.

Mr Vatskalis told ABC Radio Darwin on Monday expressed disappointment about the behaviour of “about 20 or 30 people” at the event.

EARLIER: COMMUNITY leaders have condemned the “confronting” behaviour and “verbal abuse” from a small group of people following a church service in Darwin CBD on Sunday.

Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis, speaking on radio, said he was disappointed after some members of the community used the sacred OXI Day celebrations at the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to push anti-vaccine mandate rhetoric.

A small number of churchgoers heckled Mr Vatskalis, CLP Leader Lia Finocchiaro and other authorities during and after the ceremony.

“If you’ve got your differences, fine, happy to do that but do it in the right place at the right time, Mr Vatskalis told ABC Darwin on Monday.

“There were about 300 people (on Sunday) and there were about 20 or 30 people — that you very rarely see at this event — and all of a sudden they became very patriotic.”

Ms Finocchiaro said she attended the ceremony to pay her respects to the Greek Community.

“Following the ceremony, I listened respectfully to some concerns raised by community members because I believe running away from tough conversations is what cowards do,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“Leadership is about turning up and listening, even in difficult circumstances.”

Mr Vatskalis said the “patriotism” degenerated very quickly into some attendees using the occasion to push their own personal views, and begin yelling and calling out “shame, shame, shame” and “sold out”.

“Then, of course, the most unfortunate (thing) is getting stuck into Lia Finocchiaro, the Opposition leader, in a very confronting … manner, which I find very, very disturbing.”

Greek Orthodox Community of North Australia president Nick Poniris said he couldn’t comment in detail.

“There is a time and a place for everything, and the October 28 event to commemorate the heroes of 1940, was not the time or the place,” Mr Poniris said.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said what happened at the Greek ceremony was “incredibly disappointing”.

“OXI day is an important celebration for our Greek community,” Ms Fyles said.

“People have the right to have their voice heard but it’s not appropriate in that forum and it’s not appropriate to yell abuse at any member of the parliament or council.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he wanted to express his thanks to Darwin’s Greek Community.

“They are an integral part of our city and contribute greatly to its cultural fabric,” Mr Gunner said.

“OXI Day is a significant day for this community and the vast majority who attended St Nicholas Church did so to commemorate this important occasion in the right way.”

EARLIER: DARWIN Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis has continued to publicly condemn the behaviour of members of the Darwin’s Greek community following a church service on Sunday.

Mr Vatskalis, speaking on ABC Darwin and Mix 104.9, shared his disappointment after members of the community used the OXI Day celebrations at the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to push anti-vaccine mandate rhetoric.

The event involved Mr Vatskalis, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro and other authorities being heckled during and after the ceremony.

“If you’ve got your differences, fine, happy to do that but do it in the right place at the right time. Yesterday was the wrong place and the wrong time,” Mr Vatskalis said on ABC Darwin.

“There were about 300 people yesterday and there were about 20 or 30 people that you very rarely see at this event and all of a sudden they became very patriotic. But obviously the patriotism generated very quickly into their own personal views by yelling, calling out ‘shame, shame, shame, sold-out’.

“Then of course, the most unfortunate (thing) is getting stuck into Lia Finocchiaro, the Opposition, in a very confronting and intimidating manner which I find very, very disturbing.

“I want to tell people this is not the Greek community, this is a very small minority of the Greek community, the same people who wrote the letter to the Chief Minister, the same people who alleged there’s going to be a lockdown, wrongly, the same people that have got their own agenda about the vaccination.

“Vaccination is here to stay. Their personal views is their personal views, unfortunately they've been mislead by people who provide them wrong information.”

EARLIER: CHAOS erupted at a service marking a sacred Greek holiday at St Nicholas Church in Darwin’s CBD on Sunday when some attendees took over the occasion to shout anti-vaccine-mandate messages.

What was meant to be a sacred morning celebrating the historically significant Oxi Day, which means “freedom day”, turned into a one- sided yelling match about modern day freedoms.

Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said it was extremely “embarrassing and disturbing” Greek community members were acting in such an aggressive manner toward other people.

“I am still steadfast about the vaccination and still call people to get vaccinated,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“The way people behaved was very threatening – it was a Greek National Day, not a rally.”

The yelling of disgruntled church members could be heard from the street.

Members of the Greek community speak outside St Nicholas Church in Darwin. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

An NT Police spokesman said police attended a church in the Darwin CBD on Sunday morning following a report of a number of people arguing loudly after the service.

“Police spoke to a group of people at the church who advised the situation had calmed down and a police presence wasn’t required.

“Police waited at the church while the group dispersed. There are no reports of any physical injuries.”

Opposition Leader Lia ­Finocchiaro also attended the ceremony, along with Mr Vatskalis.

A parishioner who did not want to be named said she did not feel comfortable attending the church anymore.

“During the laying of the wreath ceremony people were heckling from behind and once it was over, they [verbally] attacked Kon and Lia,” she said.

“It was like they were on a warpath.”

Chaos broke loose at the St Nicholas Church on Sunday morning. Picture: Floss Adams.

Ms Finocchiaro said she did not let difficult conversations get in the way of an important commemoration like Oxi Day.

Mr Vatskalis said it was a small, noisy and misinformed minority of the Greek community.

“This very small minority in the Greek community with twisted ideas believe information provided by people with no scientific background,” he said.

“They try to make a lot of noise and say they represent the Greeks.”

Originally published as Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro has criticised NT Labor after no members attended a Greek community event before it turned sour